Summary
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has released an interim report on the persistence of restraint, seclusion and segregation in the care of people with a mental health problems, learning disabilities and / or autism.
Reference
Triggle, N. (2019). ‘Broken’ care system for most vulnerable. London: BBC Health News, May 21st 2019.
This relates to:
Reference
Interim report: Review of restraint, prolonged seclusion and segregation for people with a mental health problem, a learning disability and or autism. [Online]: Care Quality Commission (CQC), May 2019.
There is also a Quick / Easy Read Summary.
Awkward Questions?
Too little room for complacency?
Reference
Triggle, N. (2019). Whorlton Hall: Hospital abuse missed despite at least 100 official visits. London: BBC Health News, May 23rd 2019.
The DHSC Response
There is to be a working group for learning disabilities and autism, plus funding for specialist advocates to review the care of patients in segregation or long-term seclusion.
Reference
Department of Health announces new measures to improve care for people with autism and learning disabilities. [Online]: Department of Health and Social Care, May 21st 2019.
NHS England Response
NHS England has announced a further £5 million for reviews to improve the care of people with a learning disability; alongside ongoing work to tackle serious conditions.
Reference
NHS invests £5 million to improve care for people with a learning disability. [Online]: NHS England, May 21st 2019.
Children’s Commissioner “Far Less Than They Deserve” Report
Too many children with a learning disability or autism continue to be held in child / adolescent secure mental health hospitals.
Reference
Far less than they deserve: children with learning disabilities or autism living in mental health hospitals. London: Children’s Commissioner, May 20th 2019.
The statistics, from BBC News:
Reference
Dahlgreen, W. (2019). The failings in learning disability services in six charts. London: BBC Health News, May 23rd 2019.
Learning Disabilities Mortality Review (LeDeR) Programme
The third annual English Learning Disabilities Mortality Review (LeDeR) programme report includes statistics about deaths of people with learning disabilities, aged 4 years and over, from July 1st 2016 to December 31st 2018.
Reference
The Learning Disabilities Mortality Review (LeDeR) Programme. Annual Report, December 2018. London: Healthcare Quality Improvement Partnership (HQIP) [and] University of Bristol, May 21st 2019.
There is also a Quick / Easy Read Summary.
Whorlton Hall: More “First Draft of History” Material
BBC Panorama’s undercover investigation:
Reference
Plomin, J. (2017). Whorlton Hall hospital abuse and how it was uncovered. London: BBC Health News / BBC Panorama, May 22nd 2019.
and:
Reference
Triggle, N. (2019). Whorlton Hall: Hospital ‘abused’ vulnerable adults. London: BBC Health News, May 22nd 2019.
Predictable official apology, with some statistics:
Reference
Whorlton Hall: Minister ‘deeply sorry’ for hospital abuse. London: BBC Health News, May 23rd 2019.
“Bed numbers have been reduced – from 3,400 to below 2,300 since 2012 in England – but that falls short of the government’s target to get the figure down to below 1,700 by March this year”.
Police arrests:
Reference
Whorlton Hall: Ten arrested over abuse allegations. London: BBC Health News, May 24th 2019.
Insider talk of an unpublished CQC report:
Reference
Whorlton Hall: Former inspector says warnings were ignored. London: BBC Health News, May 26th 2019.
The CQC is to review what might have been done better regarding missed opportunities and an earlier unpublished inspection report:
Reference
Whorlton Hall abuse: Care watchdog launches investigations. London: BBC Health News, May 31st 2019.
CQC Catching-Up?
January 2020 update:
Reference
Care firm’s leadership criticised by Care Quality Commission. London: BBC Health News, January 14th 2020.
